Bridle



(No Model.)

0. K. MILTIMORE.

BRIDLE.

Patented Dec. 20,1887.

.dttorney N PETERS, Phalo-Lilhogmphgn Washinglnn. oc

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHANOY K. MILTIMORE, OF J ANESVILLE, WISCONSIN.

BRIDLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 375,179, dated December 2O 1887.

Application filed July 14, 1887. Serial No. 244,821. (No model.)

T all whom, it 17mg concern.-

Be it known that I, GHANCYK. MILTIMoRE, acitizen of the United States of America, residing at Janesville, in the county of Rock and State of Wisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bridles; and I do I hereby declare the following to be afull, clear,

and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters or figures of reference marked th'ereon,which form a partof this specification.

My invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in bridles for harness, the object of my invention being to provide a bridle with means whereby it will be kept in shape and wear upon the straps connecting the bit thereto prevented, in addition to rendering the bridle stronger and more durable, said ends being accomplished by the-means which will be hereinafter fully set forth, and specifically pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate my invention, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a bridle, showing my improvement applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a sectional view. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of one of the metallic strips which are used in connection with the bridle, and Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view.

A refers to a metallic strip, which is provided at its upper end with a series of perforations, a a, and at a suitable distance below these perforations said metallic strip is slotted longitudinally, said slot extending nearly to the lower end of the same, and at the lower end of this metallic strip is riveted, or otherwise suitably secured, a hook, B, the end of said hook being turned slightly outwardly and provided with an opening, I), of sufficient size to permit the strap which is usually employedfor attaching the bit to the bridle to pass through the same.

The upper ends of the metallic bands or straps A are connected to each other by a suitable bolt and nut, and the perforations in the upper ends of the metallic bands permit the same to be adjusted to suit bridles of different sizes.

To attach my improvement to a bridle of ordinary constructiou,the straps forming parts of the bridle are unbuckled, so as to release the usual buckles, G and D, thus also removing the bit from the bridle. The ends of the metallic straps having the perforations are passed through the keepers d and through the loop of the buckle D, the tongue of said buckle passing through the slot. The end of the strap is then passed through the keeper E and through the loop of the buckle 0 above the same, after which it is passed through the looped end of the head-band and through the keeper above the same, so as to lie between the upper part of the head-band and the pad or strap, the ends of which are attached to the keepers F. After the metallic bands have been thus placed in position and adjusted to suit the size of the bridle, the free ends,which are perforated, are connected to each other by a bolt, the head of which will lie beneath the band or pad attached to the keepers F, said bolt passing through the perforated end and through the meeting ends of the strap connected to the blinds. The rings of the bit are then placed in the hooks B, as shown, and the ends of the strap are passed through openings I) and buckled in the usual manner. This metallic hook B will prevent the bit wearing upon the strap, and will render the bridle much more durable and safer.

Instead of inserting the metallic straps in the manner hereinbefore described, I may remove the hooks B. from the metallic straps by simply slipping them upwardly and expanding the side pieces, so that the heads of the rivets will be disengaged from the metallic strap, and then the straps can be passed in a reverse direction to that hcreinbefore described through the keepers and buckles, alter which improvements applied thereto a single hitch ingstrap can be employed, which may be attaehed to the ring of the bit, and the bridle will have sufficient strength to withstand all 5 jerks or strain which may come upon the same.

I am aware that prior to my invention it has been proposed to provide bridles and other parts of harness with metallic re-enforcing straps which are adapted to beinclosed within straps of leather, and I do not claim such c0nstruction, broadly, as my invention; but

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In combination with a leather bridle of ordinary construction, metallic re'enforcing strips having their upper ends under the headband provided with perforations, the body portion thereof being provided with longitudinal slots through which the tongues of the side buckles will pass, and a bolt for adjustably connecting the upper perforated ends of the strips, substantially as described.

2. In combination with a bridle of ordinary construction, the metallic re-enforcing strips for the purpose set forth, provided with a series of perforations in their upper ends, central slots through which the tongues of the buckles pass, and hooks secured to the lower ends of the straps, and a bolt for connecting the upper ends of the straps to each other and to the bridle, substantially as shown, and for thepurpose set forth.

3. A metallic re-enforce for bridles, consisting of flexible metal strips, each provided at its lower end with a hook, centrally with a slot, and at its upper end with a series of per forations, and a bolt or other suitable means for connecting the perforated ends of the strips to each other, substantially as described.

4. In combination with a bridle, are-enforce for the sides and top thereof, consisting of metallic strips each having a central slotted portion, the upper ends being provided with a series of perforations, hooks B, rigidly secured to the lower ends, said hooks being providcd with openings 1), and a bolt for connecting the perforated ends of the strips to each other and to the bridle, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

OHANCY K. MIL'IIMORE.

XVi tnesses:

GEORGE G. SUTHERLAND,- E. L. DIMOGK. 

